The Rowe Family History

What Does the Rowe Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Rowe is of English origin, tracing back to the Old French phrase le rous, which denotes an individual with red hair. Alternatively, it may derive from the Middle English word row, signifying a person residing in a row of houses. Variations in the spelling of Rowe include Row, Rollo, and Roe. The earliest Rowe families are believed to have emerged in the Norfolk region of England. Subsequently, many of these families migrated to London and the southwestern counties, specifically Cornwall and Devon. In Scotland, the highest concentration of Rowe families can be found in the counties of Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Midlothian. Within the United States, notable populations of the Rowe surname are present in states such as New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maine. Among the prominent individuals bearing the Rowe surname are Henry Rowe, a 19th-century architect known for his Gothic designs; Dave Rowe, a professional baseball player; Misty Rowe, a television actress; Tom Rowe, a screenwriter; Noel Rowe, an Australian poet; John Rowe, an 18th-century tea merchant associated with the Boston Tea Party; Normie Rowe, a singer; James N. Rowe, who developed the military training program for survival, evasion, resistance, and escape; and Richard Paul Rowe, a record producer from England.